text:
US 6406592 B2 Resumen The present invention concerns a method for producing a base paper for fine papers, the base paper being produced from a mixture of a mechanical pulp and a chemical pulp. The chemical pulp used comprises a chemical softwood pulp having a elastic modulus close to that of the mechanical pulp and a great bonding strength. It is preferred to use a chemical softwood pulp which produces a sheet having a elastic modulus of less than 6000 N/mm2 when the bonding strength is 400 J/m2. A pulp of this kind has a good ScottBond strength at the same light scattering. The base paper produced by the method can therefore be used in double-coated fine papers which require a large bonding strength of the base paper.
Reclamaciones(17) 1. A process for producing base paper for coated fine paper, comprising
forming a stock from fibrous raw material, wherein said fibrous raw material
comprises a mixture of mechanical pulp and chemical pulp, wherein said chemical pulp comprises chlorine free (TCF) bleached softwood pulp produced by batch cooking and having an elastic modulus of less than 6000 N/mm2 when the bonding strength is 400 J/m2,
forming said stock into a web, and,
drying said web to form a base paper for coated fine paper.
2. The process of
3. The process of
4. The process of
5. The process of
6. The process of
7. The process of
8. The process of
9. The process of
10. A process for producing base paper for fine coated paper, comprising
forming a stock from fibrous raw material,
wherein said fibrous raw material comprises a mixture of mechanical pulp and chemical pulp,
wherein said mechanical pulp is wood material from the Populus family and said chemical pulp is chlorine free (TCF) bleached softwood cellulosic pulp produced by batch cooking,
wherein the amount of mechanical pulp is 20 to 70 weight-% and the amount of bleached softwood cellulosic pulp is 80 to 30 weight-% of the dry matter of the stock,
wherein the chemical pulp has an elastic modulus of less than 6000 N/mm2 when the bonding strength is 400 J/m2,
forming said stock into a web, and,
drying said web to form a base paper.
11. The process of
12. The process of
13. The process of
14. The process of
15. The process of
16. A process for producing a coated fine paper, comprising coating a base paper produced by the process as in any of claims 1, 2-4, 5-11 or 15, wherein said paper is coated with two coating colour layers, the first coating being conducted by the film press method and the second by doctor blade coating.
17. The process of
Descripción The present invention concerns a process for preparing a base paper that can be used as base paper in particular for manufacturing coated fine papers or printing paperboards. A paper or paperboard of this kind comprises bleached chemical pulp. The present invention also concerns a base paper for fine papers and a process for manufacturing fine paper. The special problem of coated, in particular double-coated, fine papers is that the paper web tends to split in the dryer of the printing machine when water from the printing colour and similar solvents are removed by drying. The problem is caused by the fact that double-coating forms on the source of the paper a very dense coating layer which cannot be penetrated by steam vapourizmg from the base paper. The steam primarily stems from the normal 4 to 5% moisture content of paper and the bubbles formed from the moisture break the paper, if the strength properties of the base paper are not sufficient for resisting this steam pressure. The aforedescribed problem is called blistering and the required internal bond strength (z-directional strength) of the paper is measured by the ScottBond value. Traditionally, a reduction of the blistering of the base paper of fine papers has been aimed at by increasing the beating of the chemical pulp, in order to obtain more bonds between the fibers. This solution comprises the disadvantage that an increase of the beating does not enhance the bonding strength expressed by the ratio of strength-to-bonding surface area. Increased beating causes a number of problems. First, when the beating is increased, dewatering of paper is impaired. Therefore, the water content of the paper is disadvantageously high when the paper after web forming is transferred to the wet press section of the paper machine and then onwards to the drying section. As a result, it becomes more likely that the paper will adhere to the rollers of the wet press and drying sections, and the risk of web breaks increases. Further, the strength of the web is small at higher water contents and this already increases the risk of web breaks. Secondly, also the properties of dry paper change in a an undesireable way if the pulp is subjected to extensive beating. When the beating is increased the density of the paper grows and as a result the stiffness of the paper decreases. This causes runability problems in the paper machine due to wavy edges. When paper density grows, the fibers of the chemical pulp are more arid more tightly bonded so that the elastic modulus increases. Then the paper becomes brittle and and its toughness is not sufficient to meet the strain caused by the paper and printing machines. It should be mentioned that the unsufficient internal bond strength of paper causes problems also during sheet offset printing although no separate dryer is used in that printing technique. In sheet offset printing the problem is formed because the printing colours are sticky. When the paper is released from the printing nip, the surface of the paper and the wet printing colour are stuck together. If the internal bond strength of the paper is not large enough in comparison to the internal cohesion forces of the printing colour, the surface of the paper will accompany the printing colour and the paper will split in the middle of the sheet. Increased beating of the chemical pulp has been used in attempts to solve this problem also. It is an object of the present invention to eliminate the problems of the prior art and to provide an entirely novel method for producing a paper web which can be used as a base web for coated fine papers. In particular it is an object of the present invention to provide a paper web having excellent formation and with a capacity of forming particularly strong bonds. The present invention is based on the idea of forming the base paper from a mixture of mechanical and chemical pulp, the chemical pulp used comprising a chemical softwood pulp incorporating in combination a large ScottBond strength and a elastic modulus which is relatively small for chemical softwood pulp. Preferably the elastic modulus is less than 6000 N/mm2, when the ScottBond-strength of the chemical pulp is 400 J/m2. Thus, a paper produced from a mixture of mechanical pulp and chemical pulp will simultaneously have high ScottBond strength and large toughness. More specifically, the solution according to the present invention is a process for producing base paper for fine paper, wherein the base paper is produced from a mixture of mechanical pulp and chemical pulp, whereby the chemical pulp used comprises softwood pulp having an elastic modulus which is close to the elastic modulus of elasticity of the mechanical pulp and exhibiting a large bonding strength. Considerable advantages are obtained by the present invention. Thus, the pulp produced according to the invention has at the same amount of surface bonding, i.e. at the same light scattering, a better bonding strength than comparative pulps. The present base paper can therefore be used for production of double-coated fine papers which in particular require greater bonding strength of the base paper. Other fiber components whose internal bond strength in itself is not sufficient can be incorporated into the base paper. As a specific example reference can be made to the manufacture of fine paper from mixtures of aspen groundwood and chemical softwood pulp, whereby a strong paper is obtained as a finished product, said paper having good brightness and opacity and a very smooth surface. Thanks to the good bonding strength of the chemical softwood pulp, aspen groundwood can be used even in amounts up to 20 to 60% of the dry matter of the pulp. The technical solution according to the present invention comprises using a chemical pulp which has been produced by chemical pulping which will protect the fibers, whereby their strength remains good. The cooking should be selective in the sense that it selectively removes lignin and spares the carbohydrates of the fiber. In connection with the present invention it has been found that these objects can be obtained by using batch cooking, a particularly preferred embodiment comprising extended batch cooling (SuperBatch™ cooking). SuperBatch™ (Trademark of Sunds Defibrator). The superbatch method is a modified batch method in which one or more SuperBatch™ digesters are used to prepare pulp. The superbatch method is a method in which hot cooking liquor is fed to the chips from the bottom of the digester. The hot cooking liquor is then circulated, with or without a heat exchanger, and steam is added to the liquor to raise the temperature thereof. After the desired defibration point is reached, the hot cooking liquor is displaced by warm liquor. The digested pulp is discharged from the SuperBatch™ digester by pumping. As regards the strength of the chemical pulp, the pulping method is not as such a sufficient criterion, but the chemical pulp produced according to the invention should have enough bonds between the fibers. In connection with the present invention is has been found that by bleaching softwood pulp produced by batch cooking with chlorine free (TCF) bleaching comprising bleaching stages with peroxide and ozone particularly good strength properties are obtained. Said oxidizing chemicals form carboxylic groups on the fibers and these groups improve the strength of the bleached pulp. The importance of the acid groups for forming bonds between the fibers has been discussed in Barzyk, D. et al. Journal of Pulp and Paper Science, 23 (1997) J59-J61. According to that article the bonding strength is based on carboxylic groups. In the present invention it has, however, been found that it is not only the amount of acid groups that is decisive, but the conditions of the cook and the bleaching sequences are also of importance. As discussed above, when attempts are made to regulate the properties of the pulp by beating, i.e. when the ScottBond is raised by a high degree of beating, the chemical pulp and, e.g., hardwood groundwood, will get very different elastic moduli (chemical pulp gets very high stiffness), which is undesirable as far as the toughness of a mixture produced of these pulps is concerned. This problem is not encountered in the present invention. For this reason, by means of the present invention, a mire of hardwood groundwood and chemical pulp is obtained which is excellent as a base paper of fine papers. According to a preferred embodiment, the chemical pulp used for preparing a base paper is produced by a cooking method known as a modified batch-type cook (SuperBath™ Cook). This cook is described in the literature [cf. for example Malinen, R. Paperi ja Puu (Paper and Timber), 75 (1993) 14-18]. The cook in question is a modified cooking method which utilizes an alkaline cooking liquor just as the sulphate cook, but wherein delignification has been enhanced so that the kappa number of the chemical pulp is lowered without a significant reduction of viscosity. Typically with a Superbatch process, pulp is cooked to a kappa number of 20 or less. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a softwood pulp produced by batch cooking is bleached with TCF bleaching. The following examples of suitable bleaching sequences can be mentioned: (Q)-O-Z-P-Z-P (Q)-O-Z-E-Pn O-(Q)-Z-E-P-Z-E-P O-Z-(Q)-Pn O-X-Z-Pn O=oxygen treatment P=peroxide treatment Pn=several successive peroxide treatment stages E=alkali step Q=treatment with complexing agent X=enzyme treatment An acid pretreatment at elevated temperature (an A stage) can be performed between the oxygen delignification (O-stage) and a bleaching step carried out with an oxidizing chemical (i.e. a Z-stage). It is particularly preferred to carry out the bleaching of the pulp with two ozone stages and at least two peroxide stages. Between the stages carried out with oxidizing chemicals, it is possible to extract the pulp during various alkaline stages (such as E and E0) and/or to wash it with water. Following the above-described treatment a pulp is obtained having an internal bond strength which is better than that of comparative pulps. It typically contains at least 40 mmol carboxylic acid groups/kg dry pulp. Preferably the elastic modulus of the chemical pulp used according to the present invention is below 6000 N/mm2, in particular below 5000 N/mm2 when ScottBond strength is 400 J/m2. As mentioned above, the base paper can be produced from chemical pulp by combining it with aspen groundwood, by slushing the obtained fibrous base material, by forming a web from the stock and by drying the web on a paper machine in order to form a base paper. Generally, the pulp can be produced from any mechanical pulp made of a tree of the Populas family. Suitable species are, for example, P. tremula, P. tremuloides, P balsamea, P. balsamifera, P. trichocarpa and P. heterophylla. A preferred embodiment comprises using aspen (trembling aspen, P. tremula; an aspen known as Canadian aspen, P. tremuloides), or aspen varieties known as hybride aspens produced from different base aspens by hybridizing as well as other species produced by recombinant technology, or poplar. It is preferred to use groundwood (GW), pressure groundwood (PGW) or thermomechanical pulp (TMP) manufactured from aspen, hydride aspen or poplar. Preferably the mechanical aspen pulp contains about 10 to 20% of +20 . . . +48 mesh fibers, which confer mechanical strength to the pulp. In order to maximize light scattering, the portion of +100, +200 and −200 fractions should be as large as possible. Preferably they stand for distinctly more than 50% of the whole pulp. In particular their proportion of the whole pulp is over 70%, preferably over 80%. On the other hand, the amount of the smallest fraction, i.e. the −200 mesh, should not be too large, because then dewatering on the paper machine would become more difficult. Preferably the proportion of this fraction is smaller than 50%, in particular 45% or less Due to the excellent mechanical properties of the pulp according to the present invention the proportion of the mechanical pulp can be even up to 70 weight-% of the dry matter of the stock without the strength of the paper essentially suffering. Typicaly, the proportion of the mechanical pulp is at least 20% and in particular it is 30 to 60 weight-%. Based on what is stated above, according to the invention the composition of a particularly preferred base paper is the following: 30 to 60 weight-% of the fibrous matter comprises mechanical pulp produced from aspen and 70 to 40 weight-% comprises softwood chemical pulp. The ScottBond strength of the chemical softwood (in particular pine) pulp is at least 400 J/m2 at a light scattering coefficient of 22 m2/kg and it contains at least 40 mmol carboxylic acid groups/kg dry pulp. From the base paper according to the present invention it is possible to produce high-quality fine paper by coating it preferably twice, the first coating for example being carried out by a method known as the film press method, and the second coating is performed by blade coating. The amount of coating colour applied to the web by the film press method is typically about 5 to 50 g coating colour/m2, whereas the corresponding amount for doctor blade coating is 10 to 60 g coating colour/m2. The indicated amounts of coating have been calculated from the dry matter of the coating colour. Next, the invention will be examined more closely with the aid of a detailed description and with reference to the attached drawings and working examples. FIG. 1 compares the pulps disclosed in the examples; the ScottBond strength is indicated on the y axis as a function of the light scattering coefficient, FIG. 2 indicates the ScottBond strengths of three mixed sheets as a function of the light scattering coefficient, and FIG. 3 contains a comparison of the elastic moduli of four chemical pulps as a function of internal bond strength. The following measurement standards have been used in the examples: ISO brightness of the chemical pulp: SCAN-C′M 11 and SCAN-P3 light scattering coefficient: SCAN-C 27 ScottBond strength: Tappi T833 brightness: SCAN-P3:93 (D65/10°) opacity: SCAN-P8:93 (C/2) surface coarseness: SCAN-P76:95 Bendtsen coarseness: SCAN-P21:67 gloss: Tappi T480 (75°) and T653 (20°) elastic modulus measurement: SCAN-P 38 (strip size and tensile velocity). For measurement of the elastic modulus the sheet was prepared and the drying was carried out according to standard SCAN-C 26. The ScottBond strength of sheet produced from softwood chemical pulp is influenced by the extent of bonding surface between the fibres and the strength of the bonds. The amount of the bonding surface is, on its part, strongly dependent on the degree of beating of the chemical pulp used in sheetmaking. When beating is increased the bonding area and at the same time the bonding strength are increased. To make it possible to compare bond strengths, in this example the internal bond strengths of different chemical pulps are compared by examining them as a function of the light scattering coefficient in the same way as in the article by Barzyk et al. Journal of Pulp and Paper Science, 23 (1997) J59-J61, FIGS. 3 and 4, already referred to above. It is conceivable that with chemical softwood pulps the light scattering coefficient is a measure of the amount of bonding surface of the fibers, the greater the amount of bonding surface the smaller the light scattering coefficient. In this test the internal bond strength and light scattering coefficient of chemical pulps have been modified by beating the pulps in an Escher-Wyss-refiner at various energy amounts of 0 to 200 kWh/ton. The specific edge load of the beating was 3 Ws/m. The results are indicated in FIG. 1. In that Figure, the curve extending to a higher level at the same amount of bonding surface, i.e. light scattering, stands for an increased bonding strength. Graphs 1 to 3 depict cellulosic pulps produced by a continued batch cooking (Super-Batch) which have been subjected to chlorine-free bleaching (TCF) by using two ozone and two peroxide stages (ZPZP). Graphs 4 and 5 depict a pulp produced by a continuous cooking method, which also has been subjected to chlorine-free bleaching (TCF) by using one ozone and one peroxide stage (ZP). The cooking result is, compared to the above mentioned batch cooking, more hetrogenous and weaker fibers are produced. The fiber collapses more easily, and it looses its light scattering coefficient which moves the curve to the left. The pulps produced by both methods 1 to 3 and 4 and 5 contain at least approximately an equal amounts of carboxylic acid groups (41-47 mekv./kg and 42-46 mekv./kg, respectively). Graphs 6 to 9 show pulps which have been subjected to a bleaching without elemental chlorine (ECF bleaching). The starting material of cooking 6 was a raw material obtainable in the north of Finland. It comprises small size fibers which give a large specific surface (m2/g fiber) and, therefore, it light scattering coefficient is good. The concentration of carboxylic acid groups was 34 mekv./kg. The raw material of cooking 7 was obtained from Eastern Finland and the chemical pulp had been produced by batch cooking, Graphs 8 and 9 represent the internal bonding strength of pulps produced by continuous cooking and bleached by ECF bleaching. The concentration of caboxylic groups was 27 to 34 mekv./kg. The graphs show that pulps 1 to 3 give greater values for the bonding strength than the other pulps at the same light scattering coefficient. The differences become more pronounced when the pulp have been subjected to extended beating. Next, three of the afore-mentioned pulps were selected for a sheet forming test. Although the pulps were not from the same batches as above, pulp A corresponded to pulps 1 to 3, pulp B corresponded to pulp 6 and pulp C corresponded to pulp 7. The pulps were refined in a laboratory Valley beater so that the degree of beating (drainage) was CSF 380 ml. Then sheets were produced from the pulps so that in each test point the sheets contained 60% chemical pulp and 40% aspen PGW pulp (aspen of Populus family). When the bonding strengths of the mixed sheets vs. light scattering coefficient now were examined, a result according to FIG. 2 was obtained. Even if the differences are rather small, it is apparent that chemical pulp A gives a better result than pulps B and C. The trend is the same as for pure pulp sheets; in other words: by the combination of batch cooking and TCF bleaching according to the present invention a better bonding strength is obtained than for the comparative pulps, even if these separately include the partial elements of the invention. Finally, an analysis was made to determine how the elastic modulus develops as a function of ScottBond strength. This test included pulps from three production-batches (A1, A2 and A3), which corresponded to pulps 1 to 3 of FIG. 1, and a pulp sample D which corresponded to pulps 8 and 9 of FIG. 1. Pulp samples A1 and A2 had been refined to different beating degrees in a Escher-Wyss refiner and samples A3 and D again in a Valley beater. FIG. 3 shows that the elastic modulus of pulp A was smaller than for pulp D, if the comparison is carried out at the same ScottBond strength. Thus, it can be expected from the pulp A according to the invention that it gives a smaller elastic modulus than D and, accordingly, that a paper produced from pulp A is less brittle. In other words, the paper is tougher than a paper made from pulp D. The superiority of pulp A is pronounced when the pulps are beaten to a high degree of beating in order to obtain good ScottBond strength. A base paper was produced from a mechanical aspen pulp (GW) and chemical pine pulp, which were mixed at a weight ratio of 40 to 60. Ground calcium carbonate was added as a filler to the suspension in an amount of about 10% of the fibrous material. The base paper was produced on a gap former. The properties of the base paper were the following:
Comparative test carried out in connection with the invention have shown that the grammage of the base paper is at least 10% smaller than that of a base paper produced entirely from a bleached chemical pulp and having the corresponding opacity and brightness. In order to produce the fine paper from the abovedescribed base paper it was coated twice, first with the film press method and then with doctor blade coating. A calcium carbonate pigment having the particle size distribution shown in Table 1 was used in the coating colours:
The coating colour was produced in a manner known per se by mixing together the pigment, the binder and the other additives. The dry matter content of the precoating colour was 60% and of the surface coating colour 61%. The above described colours were used for coating the afore-mentioned base paper in the following conditions: Precoating by the film press method: 9 g/m2 per side; and the surface coating at a doctor blade station: 10.5 g/m2 per side at a speed of 1500 m/min. The coated paper was super-calendered. The properties of the end products were determined and compared to those of two commercially available finer papers, viz. Lumiart (Enso) and Nopacoat (Nordland Papier). The results will appear from Table 2:
Table 2 shows that the properties of a fine paper produced by the invention are better in all respects than those of comparative papers having corresponding bulk and grammage. Thus the yield gain on equal level of opacity is over 20%. The ScottBond bonding strength of the fine paper prepared according to the Example was 306 J/m2. This is also fully comparable to the strength of a traditional fine paper comprising only chemical pulp. Even if the internal bonding strength of aspen PGW is inferior to that of e.g. chemical birch pulp, the present invention has provided a paper which is strong enough for use as a fine paper. Citas de patentes
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subset: commoncrawl


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By Chad Clem
Staff Writer
Some nasty weather touched down in the area Thursday, including thunderstorms and some reports of severe wind and hail in the Elkins, Buckhannon and Weston areas. However, forecasters are calling for less turbulent weather leading up to Memorial Day weekend.
For today, Liz Sommerville, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Charleston, is reporting a chance of thunderstorms throughout the day into the evening and overnight hours.
The weather is causing the temperature to drop a bit, with a high of 73 and lows in the upper 40's tonight expected.
However, Sommerville assured that the majority of this holiday weekend should be agreeable.
"It looks like the storms are going to taper off on Friday and it should be fairly pleasant going into the weekend," she reported.
Sommerville did warn that there is a very slight chance for showers again on Monday in the evening and overnight hours.


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Flames Collect 1-0 Win In HL Opener Against CSU
Oct. 5, 2013 CHICAGO – The UIC men's soccer team completed its sixth shutout of the season as it defeated Cleveland State, 1-0, in its first Horizon League match of the season Saturday afternoon. Senior Bob Novak scored in the 19th minute with the lone goal of the game.
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Carlsbad, California
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On Wednesday morning, May 14, 2014, a fast-moving fire ignited just east of the Aviara residential area in Carlsbad, CA. Fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds and unseasonably warm temperatures, the fire moved rapidly to the west, scorching over 400 acres, but sparing hundreds of houses, two schools, and numerous commercial buildings. Its no accident that these structures were saved - the community owes A HUGE THANK YOU to these brave men and women who worked for over 48 hours in near 100 degree heat and strong unpredictable winds, inhumane conditions, to preserve our community. They only rested when they couldn't go on. Thanks to these amazing firefighters, nearly all homes in the community are intact following the Carlsbad Poinsettia Fire. Its truly a miracle, for which we are all extremely grateful.
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This is a discussion on Jan Brewer Defends Arizona Firearms Laws Following Undercover Gun Show Video within the General Firearm Discussion forums, part of the Main Category category; I read the New York Post article on this, which is almost as liberal as the Huffington Post. If the ...
I read the New York Post article on this, which is almost as liberal as the Huffington Post. If the sellers are breaking the law by not doing a background check, then they should be prosecuted. I understand that background check may not be necessary in all areas. My theory is to weed out the bad guys so us good guys can continue to look good! Unfortunately, it is another attempt by Bloomberg at trying to disarm the public and take advantage of us on false pretenses. My co-worker was acually somewhat offended that Bloomberg stuck his nose in the affairs of another municipality. My influence continues...
Sounds like a straw purchase on Blumeees part, file on the SOB.
does anyone read or do you all just react?
First, Blumberg's was trying to make a point about the gun show loophole. He states very specifically that the guns were purchased legally without a background check - exactly the point he was trying to make.
Lets repeat that - Bloomberg wanted to grandstand by showing that legal gun purchases can be made without a background check at gun shows.
Blumberg and his followers think that is a problem. Perhaps you don't. stick to the issues.
Perhaps Jan needs to "know her target and what is beyond" before shooting off he mouth.According to the Daily Sun, Brewer admitted later that she had not seen the videos, nor listened to Bloomberg's response to the findings.
LMAO, that made me laugh. Good to see there are other that think like I do.
You again? Really, why is it every time we start talking about something you don't like you start complaining and telling everyone how wrong they are for not sharing your ideals? Bloomberg completed an illegal straw purchase. For those in here that are slow, that means he unlawfully employed another person to purchase a firearm on his behalf that he could not legally purchase himself. The manner in which he did it is of no consequence, the fact is that it was done. And as far as JAN, as you so lovingly referred to, the fact is that she had little to say outside stating that Loonberg should mind his own damn business because Arizona had nothing to do with him. Any law abiding gun owner would know that, it is common sense among those of us that really value our rights.
So as I have been looking for intelligent discussion, and you (No Gods) like to pick fights, i am going to wish you the best of luck and ignore you perminantly. Best wishes!
.... And let the one having no sword sell his outer garment and buy one. ~God
http://www.cjdefense.com/ Wisconsin
It's a lovely thing the ignore button. Second only to banning, He's snuck onto another forum I frequent at least twice both times resulting in his banishment. He has nothing to add to any conversation and is most likely a mod or site sponsor on DU who loves to troll gun forums to create discontent.
NRA Life Member, SCOPE,SAF Join up!
Who in the heck does Bloomberg think he is? The almighty protector of the country. He was already cited in federal court for this crap. He needs to butt out!
Good to know. I should have paid attention when I saw his name, I am a bit of "A Clinger", so that should have tipped me off, but I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. I just learned what forums were a couple months ago, so learning the other day about the ignore button was kinda like getting a new gun, I just couldn't wait to get to the range and try it. He just happened to run down range at the wrong time.
.... And let the one having no sword sell his outer garment and buy one. ~God
http://www.cjdefense.com/ Wisconsin
Ole' Bloomberg was trying to make the point that guns could be bought at gun shows without a background check... And they can! In a private sale, which is legal! He wants everyone to have to jump through the same hole, one that he can exert some influence over.
His methods were and are illegal. He fronted the money to have the weapons purchased, which is a violation of State and Federal laws (as Jan so eloquently stated). Bloomberg should be brought up on charges again for violating federal laws, but with Obumer's man Holder in charge of the DOJ, that is a FAT CHANCE!
USAF-Ret; NRA Life; CRPA Life; USA Carry Mbr;
Oath Keepers Chrtr Mbr; USCCA Mbr; HGCA Mbr; Ret Former LEO


text:
All Items > Knives > Automatic Knives > Automatic Knife by Style > Dual Action Knives
Smith & Wesson Mini SWAT SW2001 Automatic Knife - Satin Plain
- Overall Length:5.95"
- Blade Length:2.60"
- Blade Material:440
- Blade Style:Drop Point
- Finish:Satin
- Edge Type:Plain
- Handle Length:3.35"
- Handle Material:Aluminum
- Color:Gray
- Weight:2.60 oz.
- User:Right Hand
- Pocket Clip:Tip-Down
- Knife Type:Dual-Action Automatic
- Opener:Thumb Stud
- Lock Type:Liner Lock
- Brand:Smith & Wesson
- Model:SWAT
- Model Number:SW2001
- Country of Origin:Taiwan
- Best Use:Everyday Carry
- Product Type:Knife
Another great quality conversion from Smith & Wesson. The Baby S.W.A.T. series is just as small as the dual action knives come! At less than six inches they are very pocket friendly and take up almost no room. The Baby SWAT line has been converted to a dual action knife (you can open it w/ the thumb-stud or with the secret firing button (under the front top Kraton insert). Drop-point 440 blade (plain). Silver aluminum handles Kraton inserts (front & back) for better gripability. Pocket clip for easy carry (tip down). Excellent quality and great action- a very good conversion.
Please Note: You have to press HARD on the center of the rubber S&W emblem to fire the knife. We repeat, HARD.
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The US Navy is soliciting bids for the Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System (AACUS), an unmanned vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) programme designed for autonomous cargo resupply to isolated units.
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is executing the programme on behalf of the US Marine Corps, which routinely deploys small units in isolated parts of Afghanistan. Its standard practice is to resupply such units by road convoys, which are vulnerable to ambush.
The goal of AACUS, according to programme manager Mary Cummings, is to build a sensor and processing package that will allow the aircraft to safely select its own route and landing point without input from a human operator.
Current technologies, including the unmanned Lockheed Martin/Kaman K-Max recently deployed to Afghanistan, are reliant on human operators to assign flight paths and land the helicopter remotely. Such activities require highly trained personnel and sophisticated equipment at both origin and destination.
The unmanned K-Max is "the first baby step towards autonomous helicopters," said Cummings. AACUS, in contrast, will require only the location of the unit to be resupplied, and will choose its own routes and landing sites.
Despite advances in autonomous technology, the fusion of complementary sensors required to ensure safe operations under suboptimal conditions is lacking. "There hasn't been anyone yet that can do it quickly and potentially environmentally unfriendly terrain, forget hostile terrain," said Cummings.
Bidders must integrate their chosen sensor package on two aircraft with unique flight control systems. Neither the sensors nor platforms nor computing mechanisms are fully described, allowing bidders a wide range of options.
Bids are due by 28 February, and awards will be given to two teams in April. The first flight demonstration is expected in fiscal year 2014.
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Community Status Updates
I don't know how to feel, winning's fun, but I'm terrified of the moral victory/10th in east/lower draft pick season
Jan 20 2011 11:03 PM
Hooray! We have an innovative coach who knows how to develop rookies and works well with our difficult vets! Oh, wait.
Dec 23 2010 10:55 PM
1 game. Calm the fvck down.
Dec 24 2010 12:59 AM
I'm rooting for them to lose, not out of disloyalty, but because I get the feeling the playoffs are out of the question, and draft picks are nice.
Dec 12 2010 06:13 PM
No matter what else happens, I can enjoy seeing a pint sized Gionta wearing 14.
Nov 11 2010 09:17 AM
Trying to tell myself it's early, don't panic, but having more and more trouble.
Oct 17 2010 09:57 AM
I think we should celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the Kovy thread every year
Oct 04 2010 10:11 PM
Fvck Michigan. I fvcking hate college football more and more every time they do this to me.
Sep 11 2010 06:24 PM


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I was being facetious, of course! Based on previous posts, I believe OP started this thread to do a little pro-vegetarian trolling. Lighten up. I grew up on a 7 acre truck farm. We grew all of our own food, including chickens and eggs. We had family members who had bigger farms where we slaughtered hogs and beef-made our own scrapple, sausage and rendered our own lard.
Seven Trees Farm - diversified subsistence farming on 1.25 acres.
"Shake the hand that feeds you." Is one of the sayings going around in the slow foods movement. I heartily agree!
Height: 5' 10"
Starting Weight: 292
Starting Primal Weight: 275
Current weight: 224
Goal weight: 172
Body Fat 30.5


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Fulbright in China
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Waiting for which city/university I will spend the next year. Looking for airfares, getting medical clearance, planning what to pack/ship, etc. Going to first orientation in Washington, DC at the end of June, before departing sometime in August. Need to pick out text books, update syllabi. School starts around September 1.
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3998072 | Portable wine cooler | 1976-12-21 | Shaw | 62/457 |
3614875 | N/A | 1971-10-26 | McCallum | 62/457 |
3443397 | BARREL COOLER | 1969-05-13 | Donovan et al. | 62/457 |
3338068 | Cooler chest for independent container | 1967-08-29 | Piker | 62/457 |
2216330 | Refrigerated storage container for transporting frozen products | 1940-10-01 | Stover | 62/372 |
2071303 | Means for dry icing | 1937-02-16 | Hill | 62/372 |
2017504 | N/A | 1935-10-15 | Lohner | 62/372 |
(a) an insulated cloth pocketed sleeved member having at least four concentrically sleeved layers further comprising:
(i) a first outer cloth layer;
(ii) an inner layer of cloth insulation;
(iii) a second inner cloth layer attached circumferentially to said first outer cloth layer at the top and at the bottom of said pocketed sleeved member thus confining said inner layer of cloth insulation therebetween;
(iv) a third inner layer of cloth attached circumferentially to said second inner layer and said first outer layer at the bottom of said pocketed sleeved member with the top of said third inner layer of cloth being open; and
(v) a plurality of vertical seams in said sleeved member displaced essentially equal distance around said sleeved member thus creating a plurality of internal open topped pockets between said second and third inner layer of cloth; and
(b) a plurality of plastic bags adapted to hold a freezeable liquid and further adapted to be inserted into said pockets to cool an object placed within said insulated cloth pocketed sleeved member.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an insulated barrel cooler. More specifically, this invention relates to an insulated cylindrical beer keg cooler jacket with a plurality of pockets within the jacket that contain plastic bags of water or other refreezeable liquid.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is generally known and a common practice to cool beer kegs (e.g., ponies, quarter barrels, half barrels, tappers and the like) by immersing the keg in an open container such as a washtub or cut down 55 gallon drum filled with ice. Such a practice is somewhat inconvenient, messy and involves considerable effort and labor before and after use. In the past, several cooler devices have been proposed with limited commercial success as alternatives to the bathtub of ice concept. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,443,397 and 3,614,875 disclose beer keg coolers essentially involving a bag filled with ice completely surrounding the barrel. However, such devices do not solve the inherent problem associated with disposing of the water produced after the ice melts, nor do these devices represent a significantly insulated apparatus. Also, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,303 a beverage container cooler is disclosed for keeping individual servings of beverage cold by use of a foamed insulated layer or external cup such as the contemporary popular beer can insulator, but with a plurality of fluid containing cavities embedded within the foam and filled with "blue ice" that can be frozen before use. However, such a device is not structurally amenable to being scaled up to the beer keg application.
In view of the prior art devices and the problems associated with maintaining a beer keg or the like cold during use, I have discovered an improved barrel cooler comprising:
(a) an insulated cloth pocketed sleeved member having at least four concentrically sleeved layers further comprising:
(i) a first outer cloth layer;
(ii) an inner layer of cloth insulation;
(iii) a second inner cloth layer attached circumferentially to the first outer cloth layer at the top and at the bottom of the pocketed sleeved member thus confining the inner layer of cloth insulation therebetween;
(iv) a third inner layer of cloth attached circumferentially to the second inner layer and the first outer layer at the bottom of the pocketed sleeved member with the top of the third inner layer of cloth being open; and
(v) a plurality of vertical seams in the sleeved member displaced essentially equal distance around the sleeved member thus creating a plurality of internal open topped pockets between the second and third inner layers of cloth; and
(b) a plurality of plastic bags adapted to hold a freezeable liquid and further adapted to be inserted into the pockets to cool an object placed within the insulated cloth pocketed sleeved member.
Thus, according to the present invention, the barrel cooler can be fabricated from a single continuous sheet of cloth by folding the cloth longitudinally about the one-third and two-third width positions with the layer of cloth insulation inserted between the first and second folded layers and then stitched closed at the lower folded end. For convenience, cloth carrying handles or straps that are snap releaseable can be attached to the top of the barrel cooler.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a barrel cooler which is inexpensive, pleasing in appearance, leak proof and collapsible for ease of delivery and storage. It is a further object to provide a barrel cooler which is externally insulated and internally equipped with pockets that receive individual plastic bags containing a freezeable liquid. It is a further object to provide frozen bags that can be inserted into the pockets of the barrel cooler during use and subsequently removed after the ice melts for refreezing, thus by-passing the problems associated with melting ice. Fulfillment of these objects and the presence and fulfillment of additional objects will be apparent upon complete reading of the specification and claims taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a barrel cooler according to the present invention with a plastic ice bag partially inserted into an interior pocket.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cloth sidewall structure of the barrel cooler of FIG. 1 as seen through line A--A.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a plastic container for storing a freezeable liquid and for insertion into the interior pocket of the barrel cooler according to the present invention.
The barrel cooler according to the present invention, how it is made, and how it is used as well as how it differs from the prior art devices and the advantages over the prior art devices can perhaps be best explained and understood by reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a barrel cooler, generally designated by the number 10, according to the present invention. As illustrated, the barrel cooler 10 is made from fabric and is sewn or otherwise assembled into generally a cylindrical sleeve or jacket 12 with preferable an open top and bottom. In this manner, the barrel cooler 10 can be readily slipped over a beer keg or the like and the top of the keg will still be accessible for a spigot and pump.
As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the top of the jacket 12 is equipped with a pair of cloth handles 14 and 16 stapled to the inner cloth layer 18 which in this particular illustrated embodiment terminates just short of the top of the overall device, thus visually exposing a second inner layer 20 above the top of innermost layer 18. In other words, the cylindrical cloth sleeve 12 of the beer cooler 10 according to the present invention is fabricated from at least three layers of cloth (an outer layer 22, a first inner layer 20 and a second innermost layer 18).
As further illustrated in FIG. 1, these three cloth layers are stitched or sewn along a plurality of vertical seams 24 which divide or form the inner layers 18 and 20 into a plurality of individual pockets 26 on the interior of the cooler 10. These pockets are intended to receive a plurality of elongated plastic bags 28. Each plastic bag 28 (see FIG. 3) is preferably made from flat laminated plastic film 30 sealed at the perimeter 32 of the bag 28. A relatively flat cap 34 is positioned at one end of the bag 28 intentionally short of the end. In this manner, the bag 28 can be partially filled with water (up to the lip of the cap 34), sealed with some trapped air therein and laid or stacked flat in a freezer such that the water or other solution freezes into a rigid flat water proof bag. These prefrozen bags 28 can then be inserted into the pockets 26 (see FIG. 1) to cool the beer keg and subsequently removed, replaced or reused once the liquid melts without spilling or mess.
As seen in FIG. 2, the cross-section of the sidewall jacket 12 involves a layer of cloth insulation 36 sandwiched between outer cloth layer 22 and inner cloth layer 20. FIG. 2 further illustrates that all three successive layers 18, 20, and 22 can be fabricated from a single continuous sheet of cloth. To accomplish this, the cloth is folded longitudinally at approximately one-third of the width of the cloth, thus forming the top fold 38. The second longitudinal fold is made at approximately the two-third width position, thus forming the bottom fold 40. The layer of insulating cloth 36 is inserted between the outer layer 22 and the first inner layer 20 and the appropriate seam is stitched or sewn at what is the bottom 42 of the barrel cooler 10. An additional folded seam is made at the top 44 of the innermost layer 18. The respective vertical pocket seams 24 can then be made and the final assembly of the insulated cloth pocketed sleeved cooler 10 can be performed by adding the optional handles 14 and 16 and making the final vertical finishing seams 24.
In order to manufacture a barrel cooler according to the present invention and compatible with a contemporary beer key, a jacket circumference of approximately 55 inches in length with seams approximately every five inches is preferred. The jacket preferably is about eighteen inches tall, thus capable of fitting more than one size of beer keg. Preferably, the cloth employed as the outer layer is a relatively strong and durable material, such as denim, burlap, leno weave polypropylene (scrim material) or the like. Optionally, the innermost layer of cloth in contact with the beer keg can be thinner and/or more thermally conductive than the outer layers (e.g., sailcloth, parachute nylon, or the like). Preferably, a denim is used for all three layers. Such material can be assembled or fabricated by any of the methods well known in the art; including by way of example, but not limited thereto; sewing or stitching, cloth glue and adhesives, or various cloth fasteners such as rivets, staples and the like.
The optional handles can be positioned and attached at various points around the top of the cooler. They can be made out of essentially any material well known in the art, including cloth, leather, plastic or the like. Preferably, a pair of nylon straps positioned at opposite sides of the jacket corresponding to the relative position of the handles on the keg are employed. These handles are preferably attached to the jacket by snaps so that they may be unsnapped, inserted through the handles on the keg, and then resnapped, thus holding the barrel cooler in place.
The plastic bags to be inserted into the pockets of the barrel cooler are preferably made from laminating two layers of plastic film. The plastic employed is essentially any material well known in the art compatible with low temperature applications including, by way of example, but not limited thereto, vinyls, polyolefins, nylons or other polyimides and the like. Preferably, a transparent film of plasticized pvc is employed. In the above beer keg application, eleven four inch by sixteen inch by one inch plastic inserts are used. Each insert can contain up to about twentyfour ounces of water. The inserts are either heat sealed during manufacturing with appropriate amounts of water already present or an optional sealing cap as illustrated in FIG. 3 or the equivalent can be employed. Prior to use, the inserts are laid flat and frozen solid. The inserts are then placed into the pockets of the jacket and the jacket is fitted to the keg or in the alternative, the jacket is fitted to the keg and the inserts are then inserted into the pockets. The selection of the liquid or fluid placed in the plastic bag inserts can again be any such material as well known in the art, including water, various aqueous solutions, including the so-called "blue ice" and the like. Preferably water is employed.
Having thus described the preferred embodiments with a certain degree of particularity, it is manifest that many changes can be made in the details of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claims, including a full range of equivalents to which each element thereof is entitled.


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Darius Robinson got help for his injured cycling coach Ron Stipe during a practice this spring.
On his back, in pain and struggling to breathe, Special Olympics Cabarrus County cycling coach Ron Stipe, could hear athlete Darius Robinson tell a passer-by, "Yes dial those three numbers, 9-1-1." It was April 13th, Stipe and Robinson's first outdoor practice in preparation for Robinson's opportunity to compete in the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games in New Jersey. The two had spent the better part of an hour working on Robinson's pacing while taking laps on the service road around Charlotte Motor Speedway. On their last lap, Stipe sailing along at 40-45 miles per hour, turned to see why Darius has fallen off pace with him. Upon looking back at the road, he realized he was in danger. The curb had come up on him too fast and he took a nasty spill. "I remember jumping off the bike because it was borrowed and I didn't want it ruined. Then I tucked my arm underneath me and landed hard," said Stipe. "Darius was my angel that day," he recalled with emotion. "I just got a little too comfortable with new surroundings. He got me help and stayed with me until the ambulance arrived."
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Ask Me Anything: Standards of Beauty
While I was on the plane to Portland for Butch Voices this past weekend, I dug through my files and responded to the last of the questions from the Ask Me Anything questions from Sugarbutch's 4th anniversary. Expect more of them posted throughout the week.
From some of your posts I think I've made an assumption that most of the women you date tend to be conventionally attractive/attractive by dominant culture's standards of beauty (i.e. not fat, not particularly full figured, Eurocentric features, etc) So my first question is – is that accurate? And if it is, is that something you interrogate within yourself – as part of redefining masculinity (or the social concept that one way to prove your masculinity (in the dominant culture) is to have a (conventually) hot chick on your arm)?—J-Femme
No, that's not acurate. I have dated girls of various sizes, with various ethnic backgrounds, who often have not fit into the dominant culture's standards of beauty. I am definitely attracted to femininity, and those who are submissive in bed, but there are many unconventional qualities I look for in a date or a lover or a relationship, and the things I need in someone I date have nothing to do with conventional beauty—self-awareness, self-acceptance, empowerment, embodiment, expression. I date people I'm attracted to, and always have, regardless of cultural beauty standards (or, sometimes, regardless of what I know about my own orientations—which is how I have ended up dating femme tops, on occasion).
I haven't always stated what the girls look like exactly, and I haven't written about all of the girls that I dated in the last four years—some of them didn't want to be written about, for example. I decided purposefully to leave out much of the physical body descriptions, partly because I was telling true stories from my dates and relationships, and, for a while, while I was still writing online anonymously, I didn't want to expose myself. After I was out, and honest about writing about the people I was sleeping with (a lesson it did not take me long to learn), I asked permission to write about someone, and I respected what they wanted, which usually was to keep them as anonymous as possible.
Also, I decided deliberately to leave out many physical body descriptions about body size, shape, skin color, and hair qualities in order for the readers to superimpose themselves and their own experiences as much as possible onto the story. It's a challenge to portray things like body size or ethnicity in writing without fetishizing it, in general and for me specifically, and especially as I started writing more and more erotica, I adopted that as a deliberate stylistic choice.
This policy of not describing women's bodies in unconventional ways in my erotica hasn't always worked the way I wanted it to, though. I've been criticized before for not including more full-figured women in my erotica. Sometimes I want to point out the stories that I've written and ask someone to point out where it says that they are thin—but I also recognize that by not stating it, I'm riding by on some assumptions. I'm letting people believe what they want to believe, and our brains tend to assume certain things, which usually line up with the dominant cultural norm, unless otherwise stated. That is not particularly effective activism.
But this is not necessarily activism—these are my fictional(ized) stories. This is art, and this is the thin line between art and activism. The activist in me wants it to be one way, driving home points about unconventional beauty and body size and features, but the artist in me reads those descriptions and cringes, because they feel unnecessary, surpurfluous, forced, awkward. I'll keep flirting with that line, and hopefully find a place where the stories can rest, instead of pushing something into it that doesn't belong, or ignoring an important opportunity for celebrating unconventional standards of beauty.
Secondarily: Yes, it is very important to me to interrogate the ways that the dominant culture views someone as more masculine if they have a conventionally beautiful woman with them. I have certainly done a lot of thinking about that in my relationships and my own orientations, and I'm frequently thinking about it in terms of what I'm representing through my erotica. My stories about Kristen have been criticized because of how I depict her multiple orgasms—people saying that most women don't come like that, for example. Yes, I know that. I know that not only from the mountains of feminist and women's sex books that I've read but also from my own experiences over the past ten years dating and fucking women. But here's the thing: that's what happens. Kristen is a real person and that is our real sex life, and that is the way she really comes. A dramatization or slightly fictionalized version of our sex life, sometimes, yes, but always based in truth.
Yes, I tend to be attracted to femininity. Yes, I tend to be most turned on by girls who are a little smaller than I am—I like to be able to throw them around. But I know butch tops who are really into girls who are bigger than they are, because it makes them feel all the more like a badass top. But there have been occasional femme tops who turn my head, some of whom I've dated. And there have been occasional butches or guys who got me all crushed out, too.
It's a delicate balance between knowing myself and understanding that certain things just work for me more than others, and also being open to trying something if a sparkle comes along and surprises me. I don't want my orientations—sexual, power, gender, or otherwise—to get in the way of a good fuck, or potentially good date or relationship. I try to keep myself challenged that way. It's tricky because some of the things I am most oriented toward do line up with some conventional expectations—butch top / femme bottom, for example—but not because it is unexamined. In fact, it might be more because it is over-examined, because I know so much about gender and sexuality that I fetishize the conventional.
I don't care about having a "conventionally hot chick" on my arm—what I do care about is having a girlfriend, a sexual partner, someone to play with that I am attracted to, with whom I can communicate, who is commited to our sexual growth, both separately and together.
comment on this26 Comments
hmm, this is really interesting – and, having read this question, i think i made similar assumptions about your partners. part of that is the general lack of description, which defaults to "conventional" – but i think another significant part is how enthusiastic you are about the way your partners look. i don't know if that makes sense, but you've never hedged or excused your opinions on girls. like, no "yeah, she's kind of nerdy/fat/skinny/etc. but she's so hot," just real enthusiasm, and i think that's kind of uncommon – i think people tend to expect pushback for liking something "unconventional," and preempt it.
also, i think i really appreciate the vagueness of your writing (you know, it's easier to imagine oneself or ones lover if you don't keep specifying physical traits ;), but it does inherently supports ideas of conventional beauty. on the other hand, eek! specific description of people in erotica tend to be super fetishizing and really, really a turn off to me – even when they are "conventional." but, i think that's because a lot of erotica i've read is crappy writing, and tend to go the "here's her vital statistics" route, or pound some "oooh, exotic" personal detail into every other sentence. i think you are a hell of a writer, and could probably do a subtle job of conveying a few characteristics here and there (and do, if not in great detail or frequency).
As somebody who is feminine presenting (who often gets stared at/hit on/yelled at etc. on the street, in the world at large)- part of the appeal of butch women is that society doesn't traditionally deem them to be attractive. It is fun to show off and be the arm candy of someone that others might look at and think is chubby, manly, confusing (of course they do not catch the gleam in her eye, overlook her impeccable grooming and style, and are not attuned to her magnetic charm and chivalry the way I am). The fact that I appeal to some people who ascribe to normative beauty standards but am not available to them, that I might confound them by swooning over my butch partner, (because she is good to me, because she knows how to fuck, because within the queer coterie she is sought after and admired) is just hot. I guess there is an appeal to being subversive in this way BECAUSE I am considered "conventionally attractive/attractive by dominant culture's standards of beauty"- and that small act of sexual resistance fuels my feminist and queer politics. However I am also critiqued by other queers for having such a type, for being attracted to masculinity rather than being more fluid and accepting of all gender presentations. But I have found that erotic attraction is not something you can always take a stand on, you are compelled by a force beyond yourself, the chemistry you cultivate with someone else when you realize that you are their type too and compliment one another. As a writer of erotic fiction SS might consider varying the representations of the characters and bodies portrayed, simply because there IS such an egregious dearth of accurate and complex representations of queers in the culture at large, however since her life and art are so intimately intertwined, it would be remiss to put her on the defensive for sharing her honest experiences and reactions, which is really what keeps people reading her work in the first place.
Wow, thanks. I agree!
I'm interested in this idea of "fetishizing the conventional." That's one of the things that is most attractive to me about butch/femme dynamics, that it may look something like a straight dynamic but is inherently challenging (at some level) straight gender/sexuality. Also, since gender/sex roles are adopted probably more consciously, you can pick and choose the most attractive parts of that, while still breaking out of expectations.
I also agree with the poster above about how hot it is to be "arm candy" for a butch/masculine presenting partner. It can totally throw straight men who would otherwise hit on me for a loop, since they don't know whether to fetishize me as a hot woman/lesbian, or feel challenged by my obvious lack of interest (and complete engagement with my date).
I don't know.I was amused by the lack of racially (and bodily) diverse images on your Tumblr. Presumably, you select the pictures you post there based on your standards of attractiveness– white and thin.
"Yes, I tend to be most turned on by girls who are a little smaller than I am—I like to be able to throw them around. I know butch tops who are really into girls who are bigger than they are, because it makes them feel all the more like a badass top."
I must be the baddest cuz I got the fattest? Now, come on… Did some Butch top actually share that with you? lol
If you happen to dig slender Femmes, good on ya for discovering and honoring your desires. I know it can be exhaustive to consider all aspects beyond our own experiences, but I wanted to add there are Butches (top and bottom, big and small) who don't care to use Femmes to boost their egos at all. Some of us simply appreciate fat Femmes because they're fawkin delicious! :)
Just as real as a psychic Butch cock, there are genderqueers of all descriptions whose brave sexual expressions are a source of struggle and fierce pride, blooming beyond the limits of mere physicality and assumptions. Tons of cocksure Daddies under 5 foot tall, hirsute high Femmes who shave their beards or not, 400 pound tiny babygirls, big badass Butch tops who are constantly moved to tears, Trans-Femmes with dicks that aren't dicks at all, and all their blessed, hot lovers who really do *GET IT*, not just lusting between the ears but also with the eyes.
Ultimately, any "alternative" sexuality or gender expression is all about just being exactly who you truly are, and hopefully the challenge of our own unique journey makes most of us check more of our own assumptions.
~Daddy Rhon
I agree with Lina. Even glancing to my right, all of the depicted women (and etc) are white and thin. When you post about things that turn you on from photos to descriptors it represents white and thin. Preference is allowed (heavens I have some interesting ones) and no one begrudges but it's hard to read about, look at when you are the opposite.
I was thinking about this subject a lot over the summer, writing about bodies and how to make sure to leave out descriptions for the sake of open ended experience. Like, what is my responsibility as a Native person and a fat person and a radical queer person?
I came to the conclusion that I absolutely want to be an activist in my erotic writing, to write about the people you see but don't see. The people I fuck. The people I enjoy seeing fuck. The people who also enjoy fucking. I want to post lovingly about the backside of a fat girl or the woman in a wheelchair who fucks her. I wanted to give respect but also not shy away from sexualizing and raunchifying (poetic license to make up words!) the experience.
This is not to say that it is your responsibility as well but it's a point to ponder when posting photos of what turns you on or having sidebar porn affiliates (i know you also do NOFAUXX who I have posed for before as well as other friends of size and color and ability and etc thank god for Courtney) perhaps consider your broader audience and what they're thinking when they don't see anything that represents them in your sweet little microcosm.
This is a GREAT blog entry. I love that you do not shy away from things that are hard. Thank you for saying to me recently (paraphrasing) "you are too hot to waste your time on that (re:someone who is fatphobic). I keenly felt the conviction behind your words. Very solidifying.
I am unspeakably grateful for these words.
for the record, i'm one of those butches you just described :) i'm a butch bottom who loves feminine girls who top me.. hard. and are typically bigger [taller, curvier, heavier, or any combination] than i.. and i'm glad i found one who fits.
I'll be honest, it drives me NUTS when lesbians feel the need to make every damned thing into something political, activist, inclusive, whatever. You know, it's okay to desire different things and no, not every damned story/show/character has to include every a-"typical" style of woman. Can we not just have erotica that is hot because it's hot? I find that for the most part, the people we're aiming our so-called political actions towards aren't even paying attention to see the political act, let alone thinking about what it might mean.
I'm femme. I'm petite. But personally, I like androgynous to butch dominant women. Why? Because they get me hot and bothered. I couldn't give two shits if someone approves, disapproves or is thinking about the political act of who I like. When we're in bed together, I'm not thinking "this is a political act and I hope the world knows it." No. I'm thinking, well, ideally I'm past the point of thinking! But I'm probably saying "oh god yes, fuck me harder." If not, then I'm in the wrong bed!
I'm politically active. I volunteer on campaigns, I am socially aware. I get it – my body type is represented everywhere and that's frustrating for those who aren't of a similar bodytype. Believe me, I'm dying for more erotic soft butch top characters in erotica. But can there not be areas of our lives that are just because they are? You like feminine bottoms. So? Why do you have to apologize for that? There are many others out there who, like Daddy Rhon, prefer the fat-bottomed girls (TM Queen). Good, cuz there's someone for everyone.
To me, the hottest stories are the ones which get the author off while she's writing it, which means, it talks about her authentic desires. If her desires are for 400 pound biracial femme tops, and she talks about her with raw desire, I'll get off on it. If she's writing about that woman because she feels she has to for political points, I'm sure I'll be able to tell and it's just not hot.
Make your erotica what gets you off. Afterall, all of your readers are here because we like your voice and what you represent. If not, there are plenty of other blogs to go to. But please, let's have some erotica that's for the sake of erotica, not for the sake of activism, because we, as lesbians, need more hot writing that's truly lesbian-centric, not aimed at men. And that, to me, is the most politically activist thing we can do, period.
Although we see things in a different way I do appreciate you clarifying your points.
P.S. I do write them.
I feel like as a self subscribed "petite person" with a "body type (that) is represented everywhere" you miss out on showing how you recognize your privilege and how pervasive your "pshaw lesbians stop trying to make everything political" is out there. People like me (a native and fat person) are either not seen or overly seen and it's not unheard of to want to be represented (not necessarily by Sinclair) as sexual beings whether in prose or non-fiction. Since we aren't it takes radical acts and big mouths to get us there.
Being intentional with word and expression when writing is not political per se, it's just inclusive and boundary pushing. Queers have felt "other" for long enough.
It is thought provoking that you followed a sentence such as "You like feminine bottoms. So? Why do you have to apologize for that" with "There are many others out there who, like Daddy Rhon, prefer the fat-bottomed girls (TM Queen). Good, cuz there's someone for everyone.". It appears to a reader (me) that you might be insinuating that fat bottomed girls are not feminine.
Also, not all of us who read and write erotica are lesbians. Some of us are queer and want to reach expansive audiences and yes, even men if they're into it.
I thank you for responding, but you missed my overarching point, which was that it bothers me that everything HAS to be political. Sometimes, I just want to desire women because I do, without thinking of the political implications of every part of it. Heterosexual women aren't thinking "well, I like a skinny feminine style men as a fuck you to the patriarchy and the expected norms of liking a masculine frat boy style man." No, they like the David Beckhams of this world because he makes them wet. Simple as that.
It frustrates me on occasion that every goddamn part of being a lesbian has to be a political act or all about inclusion. When I'm in bed with someone, unless I'm in the middle of an orgy, I've chosen to be exclusionary, because I'm choosing various characteristics in my lover over others. If I write erotica about my fantasies, yes, I'm going to be exclusionary because *I'm writing about what gets me off."* THAT is what's authentic and hot.
You've completely misconstrued what I wrote on another level. No, I am not insinuating that fat bottomed girls aren't femme. I know a lot of em who are! I took two very different comments (Sinclair's comments about what SHE likes and Daddy Rhon's comments about what SHE likes) and referenced both of them. They are separate. I was addresssing Sinclair with the "you like feminine…" and that if she prefers smaller women, so what? Why does she have to apologize for that? Because there are many other women out there, for instance Daddy Rhon, who prefer bigger women. Hence my point about there being someone for everyone.
My point is simply this – if you want to see more "native and fat" characters that are central to an erotic story, write them! But make sure when you write a story, you are being authentic to your own desires because, at the end of the day, what makes us lesbians are our desires for women as they are. If Sinclair finds smaller femme bottom women hot, I'm not really going to feel her desire if she writes about thick butch top women in her bed. I mean, would you? So, if you love the buttery crease of her thighs, the feel of her dreads tickling your skin, the ripple of her arm muscles, the scratches her stilettos make on your back as you fuck her, then by god, write about it please! I personally am aching for more real lesbian erotica, written by women, for women. The more we write our own desires and put it out there, the less anyone will have to consciously write erotica to include marginalized groups because someone will have already gotten there first and they'll have done it authentically.
Oops I missed your point about not everyone being lesbian. Okay, point. But again, any writer will tell you that they are told "write what you know", or in this case, write what you desire. I also hold that honest portrayals of one's desire will always trump conscious and "commercial" writing, at least in quality.
an interesting read. It made me think about how many of the girls featured here i assumed were skinny. I definitely made that assumption more often than warranted, but it's a bit disingenuous to say it comes from nowhere. I think I could point to a pretty specific line in one of the Callie stories as to why I assumed that about her (although i think those are gone), and you have posted pictures about Kirsten (and described her as small). Obviously throwing girls around is part of your repetoire, and it's hard to talk about that without implying they are small. Even if they're not, it's not sexy to say you "heaved" someone over. But it's hard to separate these things completely…language is culture too.
I'm not sure if i have any deeper analysis or criticism, but I just want to put this out there.
Statements like:
"Yes, I tend to be most turned on by girls who are a little smaller than I am—I like to be able to throw them around."
are part of the reasons that I hated myself and my body for years, most of my life. The reasons I thought no one would ever want to date me. Because it's not that people don't LIKE fat people, it's just that they're not turned on by them, explained by whatever statement – like "I like to be able to throw them around." Now that I'm more fat-positive, it seems like thinly veiled fatphobia, but sure, still, everyone gets to have whatever turns them on. And I'm back to the things that led to self-hate years ago.
Ella, power dynamics are a funny thing, and we all have something that makes us feel powerful/vulnerable/open/whatever. It's incredibly invidivual in many ways and I think Sinclair touched on that well in her post. That which makes one person feel powerful and hot makes another feel off and odd. You have to figure out what does it for you.
In my (personal and therefore limited) experience, it really has to do with liking your body, regardless of what it looks like. Before I came out, my friend, who is a size 16 and I, a size 4, would go out and nine times out of ten, the men would hit on her and ignore me. When I went out on my own, I'd get plenty of attention but standing besides her? Nada. We're equally pretty face-wise.
For me, I'm not in shape right now, so I don't feel happy with my body, even though the world looks at me and sees "skinny." I grew up very athletic and I love the power and flexibility that comes with working out. THAT is what makes me feel sexy and confident in my body, not that I'm small by the world's standards, because I'm still small and I feel ugh, and I know it shows in my attitude and confidence levels.
I hope you come to appreciate and accept your body because there will be someone out there who thinks you're smoking hot for days. In the meantime, if you haven't already and if Sinclair doesn't mind, I'd tell you to check out these three links:
http://queerfatfemme.com/ http://www.femme-cast.com/ http://obesitytimebomb.blogspot.com/2009/07/rad-f…
I've met Bevin twice and she's a force to be reckoned with. She owns her body, her sexuality and her fierceness and she's made people surround HER. Cool with me!
these "i have a friend who's fat and she gets hit on all the time" kinds of stories are just ways to pretend that fatphobia doesn't exist. it does. it feels to me like instead of acknowledging your thin privilege, you are trying to explain to me all of the ways that you are in fact oppressed by your body.
My body doesn't oppress me, but it has. I was born with a birth defect that should have killed me and should have been found years before it was. Due to my being athletic, my body saved me, literally. I've also had some unfathomably severe accidents that should have killed me or left me paralyzed, no joke. Others may look at me and see "thin=sexy" but for me, it is my strength that makes me feel sexy.
I'm not saying that fatphobia doesn't exist; I'm well aware it does. However, I've had friends of various sizes throughout the years and I've always noticed that my heavy yet confident friends had no problems finding partners, while my heavy but insecure friends did. As for the friend mentioned above, it was her confidence that radiated out that people responded to.
I hate the word privilege. It has become such a cutting and lazy remark. Don't like someone's point of view? Accuse them of having privilege. We are all born with advantages and disadvantages, and it is our duty to handle them and utilize them to bring about our best life and be helpful to others. Why be ashamed of what you've been given? You shouldn't. Okay, so I'm thin, but I bet you have talents I'd dream of having, no? Should I accuse you of privilege for that? Yes, I've been given some amazing opportunities in life, opportunities others only dream of, but I've also had some intense setbacks. I took them all on the chin and kept it moving forward, as we all should.
So, I actually have ZERO complaints with your erotica. Please continue to write it – and honestly, write more of it – that's why I came to this blog. I majored in queer studies and get enough of that in my day job! It's hot, and I love that there's a BDSM/butch-femme blog out there with someone who writes great erotica. Seriously. :-)
So, that said, I have some comments about the NON-erotica aspects of this blog and your Tumblr.
"Yes, I tend to be most turned on by girls who are a little smaller than I am—I like to be able to throw them around."
I do agree that this statement represents somewhat of a failure to self-examine. "A little smaller than I am" seems like a thinly veiled way to say "petite and skinny."
As a longtime reader, I also agree that, even before you posted photos of yourself and/or your lover on this blog, it was very, very clear that you were white and had a lot cultural and educational capital, including an upper-middle-class, urban, perspective. From the masculine stereotypes you admire (James Dean, white dudes in suits, Elvis hair, whiskey on the rocks, etc) to the feminine (a lot of 50s housewife/retro images), they were often set in white or wealthy cultural scenes. You also use a ton of theoretical language and phrases that are typical in extremely academic queer theory contexts, but aren't particularly accessible to a lot of GLBTQI folks without the time or interest in spending hours deciphering whether Judith Butler is actually making an original point (pretty sure the answer is: not really).
I say that as a femme white low-income bottom with a lot of educational privilege who loves your erotica.
I think that describing who you're sleeping with is kind of irrelevant, especially since that's not a huge sample size at the moment. :-) I do think that spending some time reflecting on the ways that the cultural figures, type of language, and topics you cover reflect your racial and cultural capital, might be more productive in addressing these issues.


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Black hole pairs destined for collision DR EMILY BALDWIN ASTRONOMY NOW Posted: 13 January 2011 New research has spotted 16 pairs of close-knit black holes cruising for a collision as their host galaxies merge, the largest population of such objects found as a result of a systematic search. The black holes are separated by just a few thousand light years, a hundred to a thousand times closer together than the black hole pairs that have been observed before. S. George Djorgovski, who presented the results at the American Astronomical Society meeting this week, points out that even though thousands of light years may seem like a large separation, "the galaxies themselves are in a serious interaction when some tens of kiloparsecs apart, or even higher." Examples of some of the newly discovered double active nuclei. On the left are traditional astronomical "seeing limited" images from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS); the central box is shown expanded on the right, as observed with the Keck telescope and Adaptive Optics. (In some images there is a further zoom-in on the central portion, shown in the upper right.) Image: S. G. Djorgovski, H. Fu, et al., Caltech. "This is a very nice confirmation of theoretical predictions," he says. "These close pairs are a missing link between the wide binary systems seen previously and the merging black-hole pairs at even smaller separations that we believe must be there." The observations were enabled thanks to the Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics system at the W. M. Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea, which removes the blurring effect of Earth's atmosphere to allow sharper images to be obtained. The galactic targets were selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, but in these images the galaxies are unresolved, so the astronomers identified black hole pairs that displayed double sets of emission lines in their spectra, a classic signature of two active nuclei. Galaxy mergers have played an important role in the evolution of the Universe, combining forces to make larger galaxies. All galaxies are thought to host a black hole in their core, which are also destined to combine during a merging event. These dramatic collisions are expected to generate gravitational waves, which are yet to be detected, but the new discovery of close active nuclei is one step closer to learning the effects of such an event. Djorgovski tells Astronomy Now that the black hole pairs identified in this new study will collide on the order of millions of years, and that the future generation of telescopes such as the Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT) will help astronomers search for black hole binaries that are even closer together. |
The Planets Hubble Reborn 3D Universe |
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Posted Nov 28, 2012 11:15 pm CST
The managing partner of the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis is on the verge of a significant career change, one that may also signal a growing new emphasis on legal jobs at the nation's law schools.
Daniel F. Attridge will take the helm as law dean of Catholic University of America in July, the Washington Post's College Inc. blog reports. He has been a partner of the law firm since 1985 and served as its managing partner since 1998.
It is the second time this year that a law school has made the unusual appointment of a practicing lawyer for its top job, according to the National Law Journal.
Brooklyn Law School announced in March that Nicholas W. Allard, who was then chair of the lobbying and election law practice at Patton Boggs, would be its next dean.
A third practitioner, trial lawyer Tom Keefe Jr., accepted a temporary appointment as law dean at St. Louis University earlier this year and said he plans to run his law practice concurrently.
"As a former law school dean, I know it is rare (and in these times, wise) to recruit a highly experienced practitioner and a senior partner of one of America's most distinguished law firms to lead a law school," said Catholic University President John Garvey in announcing the appointment of Attridge. "Our students and faculty will benefit immeasurably from Mr. Attridge's decades of experience, his prominence in the profession, and his impressive administrative skills."
Attridge told the legal publication that he plans to work collaboratively and use the same skills managing the law school that he used managing the D.C. office of Kirkland.
As numerous ABAJournal.com posts have detailed, many law schools are seeing a significant decline in enrollment and a number of their graduates have had difficulty finding legal work in recent years, due to the struggling economy and efforts by corporations to cut costs for the well-paid legal work that used to help fuel more law firm hiring.
Lawyer Takes Plea in Witness-Bribery Case, Will Give Up Law License and US Residency
United Sues Over Customer Complaint Website Design; Operator Calls Blog an Obvious Parody
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What do you do with it then?
What is your favorite candy bar?
"Success is falling nine times and getting up ten." - Jon Bon Jovi
Would you believe I could eat Hershey bars every day?
Isn't it nice that local soup kitchens distribute leftover Halloween candy to their clients?
Excellent suggestion, PB!
Do you put canned goods in your mailbox at this time of the year?
Does your church do a food collection this time of year?
Will you donate the bird you earned with your grocery store points?
Where is everyone, (it's gotten pretty quiet around here)?
Wow.. can you believe I was just sitting here wondering the same thing, Photobabe?
"Success is falling nine times and getting up ten." - Jon Bon Jovi
Is it an absolutely georgous day where you are today?


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Saturday, July 09, 2011 | 6:00 AM
EMF 2011: Ultimate Eye Candy
It's a wrap! The 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival is officially over. The concerts were amazing and the events and speakers truly inspired, but now that we're back home all we can seem to think about are a select few. Meet the men who made us want more, and more, this weekend, both on and off the stage. Introducing the men of EMF 2011.
Filed Under: 2012 Essence Music Festival